Barrio Logan is just south of the main hub of downtown San Diego. Barrio Logan is a highly diversified community, with a large population of Mexican and other Hispanic residents. The Hispanic name of Barrio Logan was Varrio Logan, which in Spanish meant Logan neighborhood. Through the years the name was adapted to how it is spelled today. The pronunciation of the letter “V” in Spanish makes a “B” sound in the English language. The change in the name was implicated by the “white” gentrification of the neighborhood. Barrio Logan is an up-and-coming neighborhood that has recently be cleaning its reputation of being a “ghetto”.
Most of the neighborhood’s residents that do not belong to the Hispanic culture are artists and individuals or families that follow the art scene. An abundance of cutting-edge artists have found different ways to work with the land and its resources to make new work interesting and appealing to the eye. This neighborhood has become an instant hotspot for architects, painters, builders, photographers, and a multitude of people who are interested in the art community in San Diego County. People that live there appreciate the neighborhood for its quirks and surprises that the old culture has to offer. Nicknamed Logan (for short) is full of professional and amateur street art that is influenced by Chicano nationalism. In the heart of the Barrio lies the largest celebration of Chicano culture; Chicano Park. Chicano Park is located underneath the beginning of the Coronado Bridge. The supports of the bridge are used as large-scale canvases where Chicano murals are painted to take pride in the culture and heritage.
Many restaurant owners and cooks around the 92113 zip code cook and prepare food and drinks by the family traditions that were held in their own relatives’ kitchens. Mexican food around the Barrio always has that, “mi casa es su casa” feel about it. Restaurants like Las Cuatro Milpas and Rolando’s are inexpensive and have the best Mexican food in San Diego. When walking around Logan, you always smell the different Mexican food places; tortillas, pan dulce (sweet bread) and seasoned meats always catch your attention.
Logan is a vibrant neighborhood, with bright painted buildings and splashes of color on cement walls. The random street art provides sudden bursts of color and messages on boring grey surfaces. Barrio Logan has countless opportunities within itself and its surroundings. This neighborhood is close to everything. The peninsula of Coronado is a five-minute drive, downtown is within walking distance, multiple outside malls are trolley rides away; the zoo is ten minutes away, and delicious food within blocks.
I always recommend friends and relatives to come and experience Barrio Logan. I moved down to the Barrio about a year ago into a loft with my family. I love being able to associate myself with this neighborhood because I think it fits my personality, my life style, and it never gets boring. I feel closer to my biological ties because that is where the last three generations of my family have come from. Being able to visit my Pompi’s (grandfather) old house and my great grandparents house has made me feel more tightly knitted to my Chicano roots and wear my last name even more proudly. The area has opened my eyes and allowed me to appreciate and find interest in new things.
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